Air-pressure apparatus for vapor-stoves and other purposes



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. E. DAYTON.

AIR PRESSURE APPARATUS EUR VAPOR STUVES AND OTHER PURPOSES.

No. 363,610; Patented May 24, 1887.

i l i r g f w- Q/ J a Z (No Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. E. DAYTON.

AIR PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR VAPOR STOVES AND ()THER PURPOSES.

Patented May 24 N. PETERS, Phowumo m hnr. Washington, D.G

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILL'E E. DAYTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR-PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR VAPOR-STOVES AND OTHER PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,610, dated May24,1887.

Application fileil St ptember 31, 1855. st'lial No. 177,637. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, MELvILLE E. DAYTON, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Air-Pressure Apparatus for Vapor-Stoves and otherPurposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fnll,clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

Generally stated, this invention relates, primarily, to contractibleair-chambers for vaporstoves and similar purposes, which airchambers areintended to be subject to a continuously-acting weight or equivalentforce, and are therefore adapted to serve in producing a continuous anduniform pressure upon the liquid to be expelled from the liquid tankorreservoir. More particularly stated, it re lates, primarily, to thatclass of contractible air-chambers of the plunger order, which comprisetelescoping cylinders as the means whereby an inclosed air-space iscontracted and the air is forced therefrom into the Iiquidtank, whencethe liquid or vapor is sought to be expelled.

Among the objects of this invention are,

' first, that of providing an improved construction in this class ofcontractible air-chambers,

, and, second, that of providing a compact and desirable arrangement ofthe contraetible airchamber with the liquid-tank of a hydrocarbon-vaporstove or analogous apparatus.

To these and other ends, that will more fully appear, the inventionconsists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in theappended claims, it being understood that my invention is not restrictedto the precise details'of construction shown in that form of myinvention which I have herein illustrated as what I now believe to bethe best form in which it can be embodied. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of acontractible air-chamber containing my improvement applied to ahydrocarbon vapor stove, in which the hydrocarbon-liquid tank isseparate from the airchamber. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section ofthe contractible air-chamber shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview detached of the rolling ring which is placed between thetelescoping cylinders of the airpressure mechanism. Fig. 4tsho ws astraight piece of which the ring is preferably made. Fig. 5 is anelevation of the combined liquidta-nk and coir tractible air chamber orair-pressure mechanism applied to a vapor-stovc, the view being from therear of the stove. Fig. 6 is a top view of the combined liquid-tank andairpressure mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a central verticalsection of the combined liquid-tank and air-pressure mechanism in theline we of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail section enlarged from Fig. 7. Fig.9 is a plan or top view of the matters shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is adetail construction which may with advantage be employed instead of thatshown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a detail shown in vertical section ofthe top plate through 3/ y of 7c Fig.6.

A is the frame of a vaporstove.

B is a hydrocarbon-liquid tank. At C G are vapor-burners, which are allhere represented as of the self-generating order.

D is a pipe leading from the bottom or near the bottom of the liquidtank B, either diexcept by the passage provided therefor which leads tothe liquid-tank. The ring G is necessarily ofsoft or compressiblematerial, and is preferably made of rubber, either tubular or solid, inorder that it may not slip or slide upon the dry and practically smoothsurface of either ofthe cylinders with which it is in contact, but may,on the other hand,adhere to said surfaces, and be thereby caused to rollas the weighted cylinder descends or is raised. When free,said ring Gisseetionally cylindric, and is somewhat thicker than the width of thespace 6, so that when in place between the cylinders it is compressedinto ovoid sectional form, and exerts a resilient force upon thesurfaces of the cylinders E and F, productive of sufficient friction toprevent its displace ment by thepressure of air beneath it, and toinsure the rolling effect referred to.

The rolling ring G is conveniently put in place by placing it over thelower end of the cylinder F, and then forcing both into the upper end ofthe larger cylinder, E. Thus inserted, it is evident that the ringcannot descend more than half the length of the cylinder E, because whenit has reached this point the inner cylinder will have reached the limitof its descent. Accordingly, the pipe or passage leading from theair-chamber to the airspace of the liquid-tank may be taken off eitherat the bottom or at any other point below the middle of the cylinder E,as well as through the plunger, and thence by a flexible tube to the topof the liquid-tank,

H is a removable ring inserted in or otherwise applied to the upper endof the cylinder E. It forms,essentially, an inwardly-directed flangeabout the top of said cylinder when continuous, and serves in this formboth as a guide by which the weighted cylinder F will be kept verticalas it descends and also as a guard to exclude anything that mightotherwise fall into. the space 0. Two parallel rings, G, will alsoobviously operate to keep the weighted cylinder substantially upright.

In Figs. 1 and2the liquid-tank B isastructure wholly separate from theair-pressure de vice described, and is connected therewith by an exposedpipe, I, leading from the bottom of the air-chamber.

In Fig. 7 the liquid-tank B is shown as surrounding the cylinder E andas communicating with the air-space within the latter by a side passage,e, and pipe I.

In the combined liquid-tank and air-chamber shown in Fig. 7, (a fragmentof the cap of which is shown in Fig. 8,) I prefer to employ an annularcast-metal top plate, J, as ameans of tightly closing the top of theliquid-tank thus formed between the cylinders E and D, and in thiscasting to provide the necessary inlet-opening and threaded passages forthe pipe or pipes which lead to the burner or burners.

J is a screwthreaded opening, through which the liquid is supplied tothe tank, and is desirably formed in a depending boss in order that thetank may not be conveniently filled quite to the top.

The air-pipe I is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 as in open communication at itstop with the interior of' the liquid-tank, and as rising above" der anycircumstances I have also in the construction shown in said Figs. 7 and8 provided for the extension of the pipe I above the level of theoverflow-point j at the inlet. This is done by forming a short verticaltube or re cess, J", in the top plate, J, somewhat larger interiorlythanthe pipe I, and within which said pipe I terminates at the requiredheight with respect to said overflow-point j and below the top of thetube J". The air expelled from the air-chamber through the tube 1 findsfree ingress to the space above the liquid in the tank B over and aboutthe top of said pipe. 1 is avalve,shown as consisting ofa flat disk ofmetal or leather fitted loosely within the tube J" and resting (when theapparatus is not in action) on the top of the pipe I. This valve servesto close the pipe I wholly or sufficiently when the air-chamber is beingrecharged, and to keep up the pressure of air in the liquid-tank Bduring such brief operation of recharging. To keep the pipe I in placecentrally within the tube J", a notched or serrated disk, 1, may beattached to the tube or to the pipe at a point within the tube, If thisform of check-valve is employed, it may, if preferred, be provided witha light shank, I, of wire, depending within the tube to assist inkeeping the valve horizontal and in place. Such a valve and dependingshank applied to the open top of a pipe is not new with me. The top ofthe tube J is closed by a cap, J, which is preferably a disk of tinsoldered in place, instead of being screwed onthe tube, because there isnever a need for re moving it, except the valve shall become dcranged.This cap may, as shown, form a stop limiting the upward movement of thevalve under sudden or extreme pressure in the airchamber, and preventingits getting out of working position.

In Fig. 10 the tube J is made double or with two holes, jj, leadingdownwardly from a common chamber, recess, or passage, j, over which thecap J is placed. In one of these holes, as j, the upper end of the pipeI is tightly fitted or packed,and the valve l,or any other desired formof valve, is applied to the open top of the pipe I, as previouslydescribed. The air which rises through the pipe I into the chamber orrecess j passes thence down into the liquid-tank through the other hole,j If necessary or desirable to the carbureting of the air, the pipe 1'may be in serted in the hole j and lead to a point near the bottom ofthe liquid-tank. The air will thus be forced through a body of liquidbydrocarbon before entering the airspace at the top of the liquid-tank,and will thereby be carbureted to the desired point of inflammability.The bottom of the recess j is desirably above the level of theoverflow-point j, for the same reason stated concerning the pipe I inFigs. 7 and 8.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 11 two pipes are shown as leading from the liquid-tankone, D, for the conveyance of liquid to the generator or burner,and a second pipe, D for carbureted air to be used (if at all) ininitially heating the generator or generators by auxiliary burners O 0.Both these pipes, as shown in said Figs. 5, 6, and 11, may passthrough aboss or bosses, J, on the cap-plate .I, the former leading to a pointnear the bottom of the tank B, and the latter terminating at the top ofsaid tank, as shown in Fig. 5.

K is avalved pipe, giving air'passage through the cylinder or plunger F,to enable the airchamber to be recharged from time to time. L is ahandle at the upper end of this tube, by which the weighted plunger maybe conveniently lifted. This handle is preferably con.- trivcd to openand close a valve applied to the pipe K by a relative movement of thehandle on a vertical axis, so that the Valve may be opened preparatoryto raising the plunger, the plunger may then be raised, and finally maybe held up while the valve is closed, all with one hand. As one suitableconstruction for this purpose, M, Fig. 7, is a conical valveplug havinga threaded shank, m, which enters the pipe-coupling K. The plug M has avertical recess, m, continuous with the passage of the pipe K, and alsoa lateral passage, m, leading from said recess m. The handle Lin thisconstruction is provided with a sleeve, L, which is ground to fit theplug M, and which is provided with a lateral passage, a, properlylocated to allow of its being brought into coincidence with the passagem. A packingring or gasket, n, is desirably inserted between the sleeveL and the coupling K, and a square projection, in", on the top of theplug enables the latter to be run down tight. The operation of this formof handle-valve is obvious. \Vhen it is desired to lift the plunger, thehandle will be seized and first turned to bring the passages n and oninto coincidence with each other. The plunger is then lifted,and whilethe hand still upholds the plunger, it turns the handle back intoposition to close the passage 0 m, whereupon the handle is released. Asuitable stop is shown at m, to limit the rotative throw of the sleeve Lon the plug M.

In Figs. 1 and 2 an ordinary plug-valve is shown independent ofthehandle L, and which will be required to be closed by one hand, while theplunger is upheld by the other.

For use in connection with a vapor-stove the flame of which is extremelysensitive to variation in pressure and requires to be as steady aspossible, I prefer to make the rolling ring G with the same quantity ofmaterial upon one side as upon the other, though it will of course becompressed on whichever side happens for the time being to be the innerside and expanded on the outer side. This may be done in one way bymaking the ring of an originally straight piece of rubber cylinder andgiving it the continuous or angular form by bringing together anduniting the ends thereof. Thus constructed, the ring has no pronouncedtendency to turn into one position, as to some extent true in the caseof a ring originally molded in annular form, and it opposes the rollingmovement required of it about equally at all points in the descent ofthe movable cylinder.

In a domestic vapor-stow I have found that a ring, G, of rubberone-fourth of an inch in thickness, working in a space, e, only slightlyless in width, say three-sixteenths of an inch wide, and upon the dryand practically smooth surfaces of the cylinders, operates with perfectsuccess.

As represented in the drawings, a considerable constant weight isprovided in the cylinder or plunger E. It is not material how this isapplied. In Fig. 2 it is shown as consisting ofa body of sand within theplunger, and in Fig. 7 it consists of a hollow casting surrounded bythesheet-metal cylinder F, which gives the desired smoothness of surfacewithout the cost of turning off the castings.

I? P are subsidiary and removable iron weights, slotted inward from oneside to fit around the pipe K like scale-weights. These may be usedtemporarily when a greater than usual or minimum pressure of air isrequired on the liquid-tank.

m I am acquainted with the matters set forth in Letters Patent No.347,161, granted August 10, 1886, to Samuel Daniels. 1 am also awarethat it has been proposed to employ in a waterpump a rolling rubber ringbetween two cir cumferentiall y-corru gated cylinders, the corrugationson the cylinders being for the purpose of preventing the ring fromslipping upon the wet surfaces of said cylinders. This is not myinvention.

I desire it to be understood that such modifications of the devicesdescribed and pointed out in the claims as shall attain one or more, butless than all, of the advantages or results herein set forth are not tobe therefore regarded as a departure from my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a tank or reservoirfrom which a liquid is to be expelled, of a contractible air-chambercommunicating with the tank, and comprising two telescopic cylindershaving a space between them, and having dry and practically smoothadjacent surfaces, a yielding ring in said space, which ring is normallycylindric and thicker than the width of said space, said ring beingadapted to adhere to the dry smooth surfaces of the cylinders whencompressed between them, and a weight applied to the movable cylinder,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with two telescoping cylinders having a spacebetween them, one of said cylinders being movable, of a rolling ring ofyielding material occupying said space, which ring is normally cylindricin section and thicker than the width of said space, and which in itsannul'ar form has its material compressed on its inner side and expandedon its outer side, whereby it opposes a more uniform resistance to themovement of the movable cylinder, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with two closed and telescoping cylinders having aspace between them occupied by a rolling ring, one of said cylindersbeing weighted and the whole forming'an automaticallycontractibleair-chamber having inlet and outlet passages, of a guide which preservessubstantial coincidence of the axes of the two cylinders, substantiallyas described.

4. Thecombination, with the two closed and telescoping cylinders havinga space between them occupied by a rolling ring, one of said cylindersbeing weighted, and the whole forming an automatically-contractibleair-chamber having inlet and outlet passages, of a guide on one of thecylinders which proximatcs the other cylinder, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with the burner or burners and the liquid tank ofahydrocarbonvapor stovc,ofan automatic air-pressure chamher having avalved air inlet and an outlet communicating with said liquid-tank, saidairchamberbeing composed of two upright closed telescoping cylindershaving a space between them occupied by a laterally-compressedsectionally cylindric ring ofrubber or similar material, adapted toadhere to the dry surfaces of the cylinders, and the movable one of saidcylinders being weighted, whereby the air is expelled from the chamberto the liquid-tank by a constant force acting uniformly and prod ucing asteady flame at the burners, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the stationary and movable parts of acontraetible air-chamber having an outlet-passage, of an air-inletpassage through the movable part, provided with a valve which isrotatable on a vertical axis, and a lifting-handle connected with saidvalve, whereby the same hand which lifts the movable part of theair-chamber may open and close the valve by lateral rotation ofthe hand,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with an air-chamber, means for pressing the airtherefrom, and a liquid-chamber communicating with the airchamber, of atop plate on the liquid-chamber, provided with afilling-orifice, andalso provided with a recess opening into the interior oftheliquid-chamber, and an air-pipe leading from the air-chamber andterminating in said recess above the level of the lower end of thefilling-orifice, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with an air-chamber, means for pressing the airtherefrom, and a liquid-chamber communicating with the airchamber, of atop plate on the liquid-chamber, provided with a filling-orifice, andalso pro vided with a recess which opens into the inte rior of theliquid-chamber, and an air-pipe leading from the air-chamber andterminating in said recess above the level of the overflowpoint of thetilling-orilice, substantially as described.

' 9. The combination, with aliqnid-tank having a top plate provided witha recess having a downwardly-directed opening, of an induction airpipewhich opens upwardly into said recess, an automatic check-valve appliedto the upper end of said air-pipe, and an externally accessible andremovable cap which closes the top of said recess, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

MELVILLE n. DAYTON.

Witnesses:

O. CLARENCE PooLE, CHAS. H. MANNING.

